Paul Stamets is a world renowned mycologist whose decades of work with fungi, and especially mushrooms, have opened doors onto these largely unappreciated but essential life-forms that have a lot more in common with you than you may realize.

He is the author of six books including: ‘Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World,’ ‘MycoMedicinals: An Informational Treatise on Mushrooms,’ and his latest, ‘Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World.’ Stamets is also the recipient of numerous awards, including: the 1998 “Bioneers Award” from The Collective Heritage Institute, and the 1999 “Founder of a New Northwest Award” from the Pacific Rim Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, and he was named one of Utne Reader’s 2008 “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.” Paul Stamets is also the founder of the company, Fungi Perfecti.

Paul Stamets in the first half.

And; if Canadians need further evidence of the Kafkaesque direction this country is headed, the case of professor Hassan Diab offers excellent instruction. The former sociology professor’s bail renewal was refused last week after an Ottawa judge OK’d his extradition to France, even though that order was based on evidence the judge had already cited as “problematic,” and the French authorities themselves had deemed inauthentic.

Regardless, Dr. Diab, a Canadian citizen, now faces being sent back to France, where his supporters say he faces unsubtantiated charges in a more than thirty year-old crime he insists he knows nothing about. It all points out the abysmal state of Canada’s Extradition law, and the affront to justice it represents.

Don Pratt is with the Hassan Diab Support Committee and joins us in the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us news from the city’s streets and beyond. But first, Paul Stamets and the mycelium that could save the world.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

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